Hamlet leaders from across the Qikiqtani region expressed doubt and offered suggestions for modular housing while gathering in Iqaluit last week.
The federal government has promised 225 modular homes for Nunavut in an agreement with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
Sanirajak senior administrative officer (SAO) Manasee Ulayuk said he believes modular housing wouldn’t last in Nunavut’s winters, and that the prefabricated units could instead be used as temporary shelters for homeless people.
“It would be good maybe if we could use these while they’re building homes — that way those homeless could utilize them,” Ulayuk said. “These people use them for shelter, and they’re not safe. This issue has to be looked into further by NHC (Nunavut Housing Corporation).”
The Hunters and Trappers Association in Sanirajak received “a huge sum of money” for modular cabins from an Inuit association, according to Ulayuk.
He said the 16-by-20-foot structures will likely never be used.
“Are they properly built? I think it’s OK if they’re not going to be occupied for too long. It would be a small structure solution,” said Ulayuk.
Pangnirtung’s acting mayor and deputy mayor, Markus Wilke, said he opposes modular homes because they don’t provide construction jobs.
Fewer jobs creates more social problems, argued Wilke.
“Right now, a hotel is being built in Pangnirtung — 36 shipping containers, modular approach. Literally zero employment has been created in Pangnirtung,” Wilke said.
Construction programs to teach Nunavummiut how to build their own homes should the GN’s focus, according to Wilke. Housing should have a society-first approach, he added.
“What are our issues in the communities? Lack of employment. What does lack of employment lead to? People being bored, have no purpose, live in poverty and often escape into substance abuse and alcohol abuse,” he said. “So when we are looking at housing development, we are not looking at houses. We need to look at people.”
Wilke also expressed doubt about the sturdiness of modular homes on Nunavut’s permafrost.
He said that an RCMP station in Pangnirtung, built using modular design, suffered cracks in its roof because of shifting land underneath it.
Sanikiluaq’s SAO, Robert Hedley, said he understands why the federal government and GN are investing in modular homes.
“There’s benefits and drawbacks to both as it comes to procurement,” he said. “Now, I said I can understand why they’re trying to go to the modular approach because a stick-built building now, I mean, some of the estimates I’ve been getting for staff housing is just astronomical.”
By William Koblensky Varela, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Mar 16, 2026 at 11:49d
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